cool offer
Our telephone market is brutally competitive, characterised by abundant choice, low prices and lots of complaining from firms on how hard it is to earn a crust. Just how tough was highlighted this weekend when Hong Kong Broadband rolled out its latest fixed-line sign-up offer with goodies ranging from a JVC hi-fi to a Panasonic refrigerator. Don't you just love being in control.
SPUN OUT
Even tougher seems to be the world of telecoms public relations with a veritable merry-go-round of job movements in recent times. The ever-bubbly Helen Kwan has announced her impending departure from SmarTone while Hutchison is advertising for a new public affairs manager for its '3' service after its No2 quit. Constant events, new products and competitor one-upmanship make it the toughest corporate spin job, reckon insiders.
QUEUE KARMA
Remember the little guys and even some fund managers complaining when Henderson Land, Cheung Kong and Hutchison Whampoa muscled in to collectively grab US$400 million of the hottest IPO of last year - China Life. Will the little guys who got their scaled-back profits have the last laugh? China Life's once stratospheric share price is now fast homing in on its listing price of $3.59, and a further six months lock-up still awaits the tycoons.
